Braided Bread

1/2 cup warm water
2 pkg yeast
dissolve
1 1/2 cups luke warm milk
scald milk
add:
1/2 c sugar
2 tsp. salt
let cool
add 2 eggs and mix
1/2 cup soft shortening or margarine
1/2 cup of flour
add in yeast mixture
add 2 cups flour in mixer
move to board and knead in rest of flour until feels right
place in greased bowl covered
rise in warm place until double
punch down (may add 2 Tbs orange or lemon zest or mace or nutmeg
Raise again
Braid and raise once more
Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.